Cities

Prospects and Challenges of the New Urban Agenda in Lagos

Lagos, 3 October 2016 — The current population of Lagos is double what the city was designed to accommodate, leaving city planners with the challenges of managing the effects of rapid urbanization. In the run-up to Habitat III in Quito in a couple of weeks, URB.im’s Lagos Community Manager sat down with Dr. Taibat Lawanson, an associate professor of urban planning at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. She also served in the process leading to Habitat III as a policy expert on institutions, capacity building and development.See more.

Prospects and Challenges of the New Urban Agenda in Lagos

Peter Adeyeye, Lagos Community Manager

Lagos, 3 October 2016

The current population of Lagos is double what the city was designed to accommodate, leaving city planners with the challenges of managing the effects of rapid urbanization. In the run-up to Habitat III in Quito in a couple of weeks, URB.im’s Lagos Community Manager sat down with Dr. Taibat Lawanson, an associate professor of urban planning at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. She also served in the process leading to Habitat III as a policy expert on institutions, capacity building and development.

Looking at Lagos as one of the fastest growing megacities in the world, what do you think are the critical challenges affecting the city?

The major challenge is infrastructure. The city is currently designed to accommodate between eight and 10 million but we have an estimated 21 million people, so the infrastructure is over stretched and the government is struggling with it. There is also a problem of urban inequality; the gap between the rich and the poor is high so there is a high level of discontent and that has security implications. Another problem planners are facing is how to deal with informality. Lagos currently has about 200 slums and there is a challenge because the law does not recognize these organic indigenous settlements.

Considering the growth rate of Lagos with an estimated annual increase of 600,000 people, do you think Lagos will get to a point where it can no longer sustain its teeming population?

What is happening is that Lagos is swallowing up settlements at its fringes. Peri-urbanism is a dominant phenomenon. The Lagos government has prepared a number of master plans that address issues like densification – increasing the number of people per square meter and vertical development – but all these are being priced out of the reach of an average person. And so while those visions of development are good in themselves, they are not very workable because the infrastructure to support them is not available on one hand and where it is being done it is too expensive for the average person, so the people are spreading and will keep spreading out until we don’t know what the boundary are between Lagos and Ogun State.

In view of the Habitat III conference holding in October in Quito, what role do you think the New Urban Agenda will play in Lagos?

The urban agenda document is not a politically binding document. It is an advisory document but has positive potential. We have issues like the National Urban Policy with which countries can adopt for long-term development. The National Urban Policy recognizes metropolitan governance that we don’t have here, such as the mayoral system in which the city will be governed and services provided as a whole rather than as decentralized which have financial and other implications. The urban agenda also addresses the right to the city and identified as a preferred ideal. So if Lagos is able to identify with that document and use that document as a blueprint for its development agenda over the next 20 years given the challenges in the other sectors and the realities that our urbanization is dynamic, I think we will be better served especially because the social dimensions are categorical.

So what mechanism can local governments use in implementing them?

The first thing for me is the strengthening of the local governments. Currently, local government are mere appendages; however, they are the closet level of government to the people, so a lot of services provided by the state government ought to be provided by the local governments. We need to strengthen the quality of human resource in our local government and make them understand they have an important part to play in the urbanization process. The second thing is to provide them with the funds and other capacities to fulfil their mandates. We also need a strong electoral process at the local government level so they understand the importance of their work, and we have people who are both willing and able to make a change.

What are the challenges Lagos may face in implementing that?

I think the first is the willingness to commit and the second one is the willingness to partner: the recognition of a multi-level governance system that works, that sees those at the local government levels as partners in the process rather than foot soldiers to their own higher ideals. Then the central government must give them support in terms of capacity development and in terms of structural transformation. Close.

Low Cost Housing through Mortgage Housing Scheme

Lagos, 13 September 2016 — Providing decent and affordable housing has been a major concern for Lagos urban planners. It is estimated that the city is short of 2.5 million units of housing while the majority of residents are tenants paying as much as half of their income on housing rents. The Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS) was designed to help low and middle income earners purchase a house through a sustained payment modality over a protracted period. See more.

Low Cost Housing through Mortgage Housing Scheme

Peter Adeyeye, Lagos Community Manager

Lagos, 13 September 2016

Housing as a fundamental human need occupies a central role in 21st century development discussions in view of increasing rural-urban drift and rapid urbanization. Lagos, as one of the most populous cities in Africa, has huge housing deficits that have been a concern for its urban planners. In 2011, a report from the Lagos Housing Survey showed that about 2.55 million units of housing was required to meet the housing needs of Lagos residents in the five years period after the study. The same report showed that 72% of the city’s residents are tenants paying a rent as high as 50% of their income.

In view of the housing needs of its teeming population, the Lagos government in 2011 commenced the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS) to provide affordable and respectable housing for low and middle income earners in the city. The scheme is designed to create and encourage First-Time Buyer (FTB) residents in the city to purchase decent housing through a system of long-term payment. It is overseen by the Lagos State Mortgage Board which serves as the intermediary between the government and the public and facilitates the selection of those that will benefit from the program. Meanwhile, the Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC) facilitates the construction of those housing units.

How does this work? The Lagos HOMS is targeted at residents of Lagos with a track record of tax payment and a stable source of income that can ensure the complete payment of the housing unit over the stipulated period of time. All applicants must meet the eligibility criteria: applicants must be 21 years and above, they must be permanent resident of Lagos with the proof of Lagos State Residents Registration Cards, must have evidence of tax payment in the city 5 years prior to application, must be a first-time house buyer, and must be able to pay an initial deposit of 30% of the total cost of the housing unit.

Despite the pre-qualification criteria, the demand is often higher than available housing. Applicants that fulfil the requirements are eligible to purchase a form of interest at a low fee, and they are assigned a drawing code on completion. As a means of ensuring transparency and fairness of the system, all eligible applicants are scheduled for a drawing conducted periodically on announced dates, through a transparent and well publicised process. Successful applicants are directed to the LBIC for mortgage processing while unsuccessful ones can re-apply.

The Lagos HOMS has been instrumental in reducing housing shortage in the city as 600 units of housing were awarded through the scheme between 2012 and 2015. The city administrator, Akinwumi Ambode plans to build 187,000 units of housing annually over the next 5 years to address the 2.5 million unit shortage. Numerous benefits accrue from this mortgage housing scheme. Perhaps most significantly, it provides low and middle income earners the opportunity to own their home over a minimum period of ten years which saves them of the exorbitant cost on rents. It is also an incentive to tax payers and serves as guarantee from fraudulent acts that may be involved in purchasing properties in the city. Moreover, more housing options creates competition on housing which will reduce housing cost for the poor that cannot partake in the schemes and provide a better planned and sustainable housing solution in the city.

Please Note: I tried to access the Lagos Household Survey data but I could not get it. The data about housing needs and the Lagos Household Survey was found in the Economic Intelligence Report of State Partnership for Accountability, Responsiveness and Capability (SPARC) programme – A DFID project in Nigeria. It can be assessed here.Close.

Reclaiming spaces for public leisure and community participation

Lagos, 9 August 2016 — Rapid population growth in Lagos continues to exert pressure on available resources, including public infrastructure and spaces. In 2008, the city’s administrator commenced a beautification program by reclaiming spaces and converting them into parks and gardens. This has not only added to the aesthetics of the city but is also fostering community participation and promoting a greener and cleaner environment. See more.

Reclaiming spaces for public leisure and community participation

Peter Adeyeye, Lagos Community Manager

Lagos, 9 August 2016

As the commercial center of Nigeria, Lagos has continued to attract flocks of migrants in the quest for partaking in the economic opportunities the city offers. The rapid population growth of the city has continued to exert pressure on available resources including public infrastructure and spaces. Areas that are designed to foster community lifestyle and leisure were diverted into business hubs, waste repository or the hideouts for miscreants. The absence of public spaces for leisure and rest created an environment of long hours of work while the few people with economic means explored private options.

The benefits of public parks and gardens cannot be undermined: they improve the quality of life, add to the aesthetics of the city, promote community lifestyle and participation and also create a green society. In recognition of the effect of parks and gardens, the Lagos state government “commenced an aggressive landscaping and beautification program in 2008 as a major component of the greening initiative of the State government to improve the aesthetics of the environment, restore the lost glory of Lagos as a beautiful state, create more recreational and relaxation centers and also mitigate the impact of climate change,” which was done through the Department of Conservation and Ecology Department of the Ministry of Environment.

The Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) was established in 2011 with the mandate of making “Lagos greener and healthier through the creation and maintenance of functional and operational parks and gardens, planting and maintenance of trees.” LASPARK serves as the regulatory agency for all designated parks and gardens in the city. It carries out government activities related to recreational centers, gardens and parks as well as regulating the hours of use of those spaces in order to guarantee the safety of users. It operates through four program areas: tree planting and management, beautification research and development, horticulture, research and development and monitoring, and enforcement and compliance.

In its five years of existence, 327 parks and gardens have been created and maintained under LASPARK, 212 established by the city government, 85 by the private and 31 established in schools. The creation of these parks and gardens have also created approximately 484 jobs for residents of the city along the value chain of parks and garden creation and maintenance. Those public spaces are also fostering newer relationships and community lifestyles that give individuals and groups the opportunity for leisure, networking, holding informal meetings and enjoying quietness. It has also promoted a greener and cleaner city, which was previously unimaginable. The 6,203,553 trees planted across the city since the commencement of public space reclamation in 2008 is a giant stride in the city’s quest for promoting environmental sustainability, as well.

In spite of the provision of public parks and gardens across the city, the frequency of patronage is often low except on weekends and special holidays. This could be predicated on the busy lifestyle of the city’s residents and also the cost charged at some of the parks that many may not be able to afford. It will be great to have public sensitization on the numerous benefits of work-life balance which will inform more patronage of these resources.Close.

Waste pickers in Lagos benefit from slum households’ recyclables

Lagos, 5 July 2016 — As one of the fastest growing cities in the world, Lagos generates huge amounts of waste – all of which is transferred to dumpsites through private trucks or informal collectors known as waste pickers. Wecyclers has begun to incentivize slum households to improve the supply and quality of waste received by informal recyclers. See more.

Waste pickers in Lagos benefit from slum households’ recyclables

Peter Adeyeye, Lagos Community Manager

Lagos, 5 July 2016

As one of the fastest growing megacities in the world, Lagos has a mounting solid waste issue: the city generates an estimated at 13,000 metric tonnes daily. This waste is mostly composed of plastic, vegetables, papers, glass and metals that are generated by households and industries. The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) is the government agency in charge of solid waste management in the city and is saddled with the responsibility transferring waste to landfills, maintenance of landfills and the recycling of waste. It operates the waste transfer from homes and industrial areas through a public-private partnership arrangement, known as the Private Sectors Participants (PSP), which uses trucks to move the waste to landfills for initial processing.

Also included in the waste management value chain are the activities of informal waste collectors that are generally known as waste pickers. Many are migrants from the northern part of the country with few skillsets to gain decent employment in the city. The primarily conduct two activities: sorting out of non-biodegradable waste, such as electronic and metals from household waste bins and dumpsites, and also serve as complementary waste collectors for households where the PSP is insufficient or fails, many of which are informal settlements. Although electronic waste management is handled by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), most of the activities around e-waste management are done by the informal sector. The market for electronic waste and metals inform the activities of the waste pickers in maintaining a livelihood by collecting e-waste and other waste by pushing of carts around the metropolis to sell to the informal recyclers.

The activities of these informal waste collectors have raised concerns over health and safety issues for the workers. Most of them are not aware of the health risk involved in the collection of waste, particularly e-waste, and will sometimes use their bare hands to sort waste from waste bins and dumpsites. Many of them also push fully loaded carts over long distances, which can have dire implications on their health status over time. There are also questions about their economic well being, as they are often among the lowest earners in society.

Most waste management initiatives in the city have focused more on the users of this waste or its end products while ignoring the activities of these waste collectors that represent a significant proportion of the city’s labor force.

Weyclers is a non-profit that works with LAWMA in collecting household recyclable waste through a model that incentivizes households by the amount of waste they collect while using low-cost cargo-bicycles to sell the sorted waste to local processors. It employs some of the informal collectors and equips them with the relevant skillset and support, including a bicycle, making the transportation process easier. The bicycles are particularly helpful in dense neighborhoods where traditional dump trucks cannot enter.

The families who recycle their waste with Wecyclers receive points over their cell phones, which they can redeem for “goods they value, such as cell phone minutes, basic food items, and household goods. Families receive collection reminders and rewards updates directly on their mobile phones making the benefits of recycling immediate,” says Wecyclers. The model also benefits the informal recyclers who are able to increase their income through access to more waste that is often of a better quality.

In promoting a more inclusive city, it is imperative to ensure a safer, healthier and prosperous livelihood for informal waste collectors. For instance it will be great to see LAWMA integrate them into its value chain as it strives towards efficient waste management system. Health and safety professionals and NGOs can continue to raise awareness around safe and healthy practices in this challenging livelihood.Close.

Expert View on a New Lagos: An interview with Olufemi Olarewaju

Lagos, 8 June 2016 — Lagos will be the second or third largest city in the world by 2050 according to Urban Africa. This population growth must be in tandem with developmental solutions. Olufemi Olarewaju, Ph.D. is Co-Founder of the Sustainability School, Lagos and founding Executive Director of the Resource Innovation and Solutions Network Nigeria, an organization at the forefront of promoting sustainable solutions to urban challenges in Lagos. He shares his views about a new Lagos. See more.

Expert View on a New Lagos: an interview with Olufemi Olarewaju

Peter Adeyeye, Lagos Community Manager

Lagos, 8 June 2016

Lagos will be the second or third largest city in the world by 2050 according to Urban Africa. This population growth must be in tandem with developmental solutions. Olufemi Olarewaju, Ph.D. is Co-Founder of the Sustainability School, Lagos and founding Executive Director of the Resource Innovation and Solutions Network Nigeria, an organization at the forefront of promoting sustainable solutions to urban challenges in Lagos. He shares his views about a new Lagos.

What will you describe as the major challenges in Lagos?

If I had to say it in a single statement, I would say ‘we lack the capacity to respond’. The issues that urbanizing cities face globally are the same with Lagos: rapid population growth, rural urban influx and a teeming youthful population all driven by desire for economic opportunities. Everybody then wants to live in Lagos which now translates into other challenges like stress on transportation, stress on housing, sanitation and so on, all these coupled with existing infrastructural deficits translates to challenges in every sphere of life.

How can Lagos grow more equitably?
I see it from two ways.

Firstly, I think Lagos must restate its development strategy. If we look at the challenges that we face and we look at other cities that are facing similar challenges, we should ask ourselves how they are solving these problems, so taking a global context and seeing how we can domesticate these solutions. Secondly is to use the concept of circular economy which simply addresses efficient use of resources to address four key things. And waste management. Lagos generates about 12,000 tonnes of waste daily meaning that Lagos has to design an efficient waste management system where wastes don’t get to landfills but converted to energy for use. Also look at the water, about 60% of Lagos’s territory is filled with water, we have to develop the water ways for transportation. Also, because of the massive influx of people into the city, there is need for increased attention to informal settlements and finally security of citizens should be prioritized. These four things have to be addressed rapidly.

Can you site a project that can be expanded on in Lagos?

The light rail transport system can be expanded on. AlsoI know that Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA)have the capacity to translate from waste collection into a proper waste management entity so that they can capture all the economic potential that lies in an efficient waste management scheme.

How can Lagos work with a more participatory process?

Basically it means that the city should engage in a more inclusive and participatory processes. Permit me to share what Sustainability School, Lagosdesigned as a vision statement for Lagos during its just concluded training on circular economy which reads that, ‘As a leader in Africa, Lagos will be a clean, planned and smart commercial city that has transparent and responsible governance, a cohesive and healthy community, enabling environment for business, innovation and entrepreneurship and an effective waste and emissions systems’, this came out from about 37 people during the training. Having done that, we broke the team into eight thematic groups; energy, water, sanitation, electronic waste, plastic, built environment, transportation and food systems to develop appropriate solutions to these major urban issues. These are all private sector-driven but we are carrying the Lagos government along, and as we move ahead we expect greater collaboration.

What are your final words for Lagos as a fast growing megacity?

By 2050, Lagos will be the 2nd or 3rdmost populous city in the world. It has the opportunity and resources to achieve its development goals if it can deal with its social issues and thereby help facilitate a strong investment climate.Close.

Disaster management through mobile phone helplines

Lagos, 5 May 2016 — Managing urban areas has become one of the most important development challenges of this century. In Lagos, one of the most pressing issues has become managing urban emergencies and disasters. Recently, the city has set up technology-enabled systems to respond more rapidly and efficiently. See more.

Disaster management through mobile phone helplines

Peter Adeyeye, Lagos Community Manager

Lagos, 5 May 2016

Smart city initiatives include a broad range of services that leverage digital technologies in boosting the quality of lives of residents of a city. Lagos, as one of the fastest growing megacities in the world, has been exploring technologically driven initiatives for delivering public services. For instance, the Governor elect, Akinwumi Ambode, in his election manifesto promised “greater attention to traffic/road management, using technology and e-traffic.” Since assuming office, he has been launching several initiatives to make the city smarter, including approving the installation of 10,000 CCTV cameras to reduce crimes.

Managing urban areas has become one of the most important development challenges of this century. Worldwide statistics reveal the increasing number of disasters and its impact on lives and properties. The Lagos state government, over time, has set up various agencies to manage the different emergencies that may arise in the city as part of its commitment to securing citizen’s welfare. As a response to the increasing number of medical emergencies in the city, the state government established the Lagos State Emergency Medical Service (LASEMS) and the Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS) in 2001. The two services run on a continuous basis with provision of free treatment within the first 24 hours of emergencies. The project works with a radio-communication network that links the public, the two services and the state ministry of health together. A phone hotline (112 or 767) has also been dedicated to these services in order to facilitate fast communication whenever there is a medical emergency. There are 25 operational points of the ambulance service scattered around the city in order to aid easy emergency response. Some of the ambulances also have additional mobile intensive care unit (MICU) with capacity to administer advanced life support for critical cases. The services have been noted to lead to “significant improvement in the response time and quality of care with attendant improvement in morbidity and mortality rates occasioned by medical emergencies” in the city.

The Lagos Directory Online is a website that is dedicated to providing contacts and addresses of Lagos government ministries. It provides emergency mobile contacts for emergency services such as fire services, women’s domestic violence helpline, child abuse helpline, distress or collapsed buildings, air ambulances and medical crew. It also provides contacts of agencies that are related to disaster management, such as the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) – an environmental law enforcement agency – and the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASMA).

The introduction of these hotlines have not only been helpful to victims of disaster but also offers hope to citizens of the possibility of fast response if confronted with emergencies at any time. In 2015, govTechnology, an international organization promoting digital innovation, revealed that the call centrers in Lagos receives about five-million calls monthly, which emphasizes the critical role these hotlines play in reverting mortality and morbidity. It will, however, be good if the various distress numbers can be merged into a single emergency number that can serve various purposes and can be easily remembered in cases of emergencies. Lagos government should also be willing to adopt smart technologies to other area of public services in fostering a faster, more reliable and efficient communication system to basic infrastructure and provisions in the city. Close.

Smart moves to curb traffic congestion

Lagos, 8 April 2016 — A rising demand for transportation has led to a surge in the number of vehicles plying Lagos roads. The state government estimated the vehicle density as 224 per kilometre. The very high number of vehicles, poor traffic management and erratic driving habits of motorist culminates to cause traffic congestion on the city’s highways. The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) was introduced as a public private partnership to provide cleaner, cheaper, and more efficient means of commuting. See more.

Smart moves to curb traffic congestion

Peter Adeyeye, Lagos Community Manager

Lagos, 8 April 2016

An expanding population and the need to commute have created a rising demand for transportation options in Lagos, increasing the number of vehicles on the roads. Although there is a surge in privately owned vehicles, demand for public transportation is also escalating. In 2009, a World Bank report revealed that an estimated 8 million people travel to work through public transport in the city. The influx of vehicles on the road, bad driving, poor management of traffic have been the major causes for traffic congestion on Lagos’s highways.

In addressing the traffic problem, various measures have been adopted, with each achieving some success. However, the introduction of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) altered the dynamics of mobility with its provision of a faster, cheaper, cleaner and comfortable means of commuting. The BRT is an innovative, high-performance bus-based transit system which relies on the use of dedicated 'interference' free segregated lanes to guarantee fast and reliable bus travel at metro level capacity. The BRT scheme was introduced in March 2008 and was the first example of a comprehensive and integrated approach to improving public transport in sub-Saharan Africa. It runs through a public private partnership with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (LAMATA) providing the regulatory framework and infrastructure needed while some selected private sector companies procure, operate, and maintain the buses themselves. The 220 buses operate from 6 am to 10 pm with a daily average ridership of 180,000 people. At the pilot phase, the buses run through two major transport corridors, Mile 12 through Ikorodu Road and Funsho Williams Avenue up to CMS.

As part of its 30-years Strategic Transport Master Plan, the governor elect, Akinwumi Ambode in November, 2015 opened the Ikorodu to CMS corridor and injected 434 new air-conditioned buses known as 'BRT Special' or 'BRT Upgrade' to the scheme which serves an estimated 450,000 passengers daily. Besides making commuting easier, the first phase generated 1,000 direct and 500,000 indirect jobs. It has also reduced the number of vehicles on the road, reducing carbon emission and halting traffic congestion.

The Lagos Traffic Radio (96.1 FM) was commissioned in May, 2012 with the aim of 'empowering the commuting citizens and motoring public with needed information on the situation of the roads within the different axes of the state at any point in time, to enable them know the best possible routes available, thus reducing traffic time and congestion'. The stations runs 24 hours per day and has been very helpful in informing motorist on the right routes to take. In addition, GIDITRAFFIC (@Gidi_Traffic) is a social media platform that started in September, 2011 and relies on crowd-sourcing as its primary means of providing traffic information to commuters. It operates mainly on twitter and has close to 600,000 followership. The platform is user interactive and gives the resident the opportunity to access other important information that make the city conducive for all.

The various schemes have been helpful in reducing traffic congestion and its impact on carbon emission. While the Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan will include six rail lines, one monorail, 14 BRT corridors, three cable car corridors and 26 developed water routes, it will be even better if the city can explore cleaner means like bicycling with a potential of securing a safer environment, a strengthened public health atmosphere, and ultimately a richer community for everyone. Close.

How skills training can create better cities

Lagos, 1 March 2016 — The economic opportunities embedded in Lagos have continued to attract migrants from across the country, leading to unemployment and urban poverty. There have been various initiatives focused on skill acquisition and vocational training targeted at empowering various segments of the society. These programs have great potential in improving the situation for all citizens and reducing urban poverty. See more.

How skills training can create better cities

Peter Adeyeye, Lagos Community Manager

Lagos, 1 March 2016

Lagos can be described as a microcosm of Nigeria, harbouring various cultures, faiths, orientation and the over 200 ethnic groups in the country. This diversity is predicated on the historical precedence of Lagos as the colonial seat of power and the first capital territory of Nigeria. Moreover, its geographical location along the coast with a commercial seaport opened up the city to various economic opportunities that served as a pull factor for migrants from across the country. With a current population of about 21 million, the challenges of meeting everyone’s need have led to mass poverty and unemployment across various strata.

In recognition of the critical role that empowerment programs plays in poverty alleviation and citizen’s empowerment – and in creating better cities for everyone – various actors in Lagos have been investing in vocational training and skill acquisition programs for varying segments of the society. A notable example of a project that is targeted at building the capacity of secondary school students is the Lagos Empowerment and Resource Network (LEARN), which aims to give these students the opportunity for continuous learning and mentorship. There are various programs designed to empower students that include career enlightenment programs, summer and after school lessons and skill acquisition programs that place students in Lagos state skill acquisition centres to acquire practical skills in such area as arts and crafts, catering and event decoration. The program is completely free of charge for students and only holds after school during academic session and extensively during the holiday. It sustains itself by calling on the larger community to volunteer their vocational skills and professional expertise in moulding the next generation of leaders.

The Lagos State Technical and Education Board (LASTVEB) in 2012 launched the Apprenticeship Training Program (ATP), which is a combination of two major programs: School Leaver Modern Apprenticeship Programme (SL-MATP) and Graduate Vocational Employability Skill Training Programme (GV-ESTP). The SL-MATP is an alternative route for school leavers to join the higher institution instead of the common University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) they have to write. Admitted students are placed in any of the five technical schools within the city and have the opportunity of learning various skills. Similarly, the GV-ESTP is designed for graduates who need apprenticeship training and professional qualifications in various vocational subjects. They are normally placed in the government technical colleges, skill acquisition centers, vocational/youth centres and accredited training providers. Similarly, the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) was created in 1999 for the purpose of elevating the living standard of residents of Lagos with particular emphasis on all categories of women through economic empowerment and sustainable programs. It embarked on various empowerment programs that led to the introduction of 17 vocational skills centers across the city. WAPA also introduced other poverty reduction initiatives, such as micro-credit lending through micro-finance banks.

This series of empowerment programs have great potential for generating employment for many people within the city and thereby alleviating urban poverty. While the effort of these stakeholders are highly commendable, it is equally important for others to come on board in building capacities of other marginalized groups. Also, there is a need for follow-up with the candidates with further opportunities like seed funding, access to loan and micro-credit, equipment supply and helping them with business registration. These will reduce urban poverty and make Lagos more suitable for all. Close.

Governance accountability through citizen’s engagement

Lagos, 12 February 2016 — For a country that had undergone several coups and long years of military dictatorship, the idea of citizen engagement and governance accountability are quite novel. The Lagos state government in the light of fulfilling its campaign promises of promoting public accountability and inclusiveness has continued to engage citizens through periodic town hall meetings and stakeholder’s engagement. See more.

Governance accountability through citizen’s engagement

Peter Adeyeye, Lagos Community Manager

Lagos, 12 February 2016

Citizens’ participation is one of the ideals for a good governance framework. For many residents of Lagos, the idea of governance accountability and inclusiveness are still novel. This can be mainly explained by the political experience of Nigeria, having undergone a long period of military rule characterized by abuses of human rights, media clamp-downs, high levels of corruption, impunity and repression of the citizenry. This history has left an imprint that government is distant, unresponsive, and unaccountable, and these ideas have continued even after the country returned to democracy in 1999. This type of government, however, negates the fundamentals of democracy.

In an effort to promote public accountability and ensure political participation, the Lagos government and other actors have been organizing various programs, such as stakeholders’ engagement, social media chats, public visits to communities and town hall meetings, to bring government closer to the people. This is not just a prerogative of the executive of the state but also the legislators. For instance, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has a reputation of organizing periodic town hall meetings since assuming office in 2011. She uses these to brief her constituency about activities and initiatives going on in her area with the aim of getting feedback. This platform also serves as a medium for promoting public sensitization about the roles of the various arms of government in order to know who to hold accountable for specific duties. Perhaps, one of the greatest achievement of the state judiciary is the creation of its website, where they provide residents with updates on their activities, with a provision for anyone to get familiar with the representative of their constituency.

The governor elect, Akinwumi Ambode, during his manifesto months before the election in March 2015 promised to “pursue increased community cohesion and civic identity through participation in social, political and cultural spheres,” which he has been living up to since his taking office. At his second quarterly town hall meeting in January, he provided an update on the progress made and the general direction of his administration. There are other non-state actors that have been involved in ensuring government transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness. The annual Social Media Week, which is on this month, has a session on “Let’s talk governance! Building bridges between citizens and government,” which will be anchored by important political personalities.

The series of dialogues and stakeholders engagement are imperative for strengthening democratic institutions and processes in the city. It will remove the disconnect between government and the people and restore public confidence. While the actions of the state actors have been commendable, it is still a work in progress. For instance, it would be good to have periodic social media chats with elected officers. Questions about openness of offices of elected officials and consultation of the citizens before major projects are done should also exist. Surprisingly, most of the initiatives towards inclusiveness and accountability described have been led by state actors, which may not be sustainable over time. The role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), media and other important stakeholders cannot be undermined in ensuring a more accountable and inclusive system of governance in Lagos.Close.

Eko Atlantic City: the emergence of Africa’s new financial haven

Lagos, 11 January 2016 — The Eko Atlantic City (EAC) stands on 10 million square metres of land reclaimed from the ocean and protected by an 8.5-kilometer-long sea wall. EAC epitomizes a modern city with state-of-the art urban design, self-sustaining power, clean water, advanced telecommunications, spacious roads, and an eco-friendly environment. See more.

Eko Atlantic City: the emergence of Africa’s new financial haven

Peter Adeyeye, Lagos Community Manager

Lagos, 11 January 2016

In terms of raising a 21st century model city with a blend of first-class architectural design, adept urban planning, self-sustaining power generation, and a keen consideration for environmental sustainability, the Eko Atlantic City (EAC) stands as one of the leading urban development projects in Africa. Situated on 10 million square metres of land reclaimed from the ocean and protected by an 8.5 kilometre long sea wall, the EAC typifies a modern city with state-of-the-art urban design, self-sustaining power, clean water, advanced telecommunications, spacious roads, and 110,000 trees.

The idea of reclaiming some portion of the Atlantic Ocean to build a model city came as an intervention effort by the state government in 2003 to permanently solve the coastal flooding problem in Lagos Bar Beach along Victoria Island. A feasibility study was undertaken between 2003 and 2005 among international experts who suggested plans for a massive sea revetment enclosing a new city as a permanent solution to flooding in the area. The project was awarded to South Energyx Nigeria Limited – a subsidiary of the Nigeria-based Chagoury Group of companies – working in strategic partnership with the Lagos State Government and supported by the Nigerian federal government.

EAC also known as Eko Atlantic Economic City (EAEC) has been tipped to become the financial headquarters of Nigeria and perhaps of West Africa. The project is designed to cover ten districts: Harbour Lights, Business District, Marina District, Downtown, Eko Island, Avenues, Four Bridges, Eko Drive, East Side Marina and Ocean Front which will combine financial, commercial, residential, and tourist development hubs. The business district with towering skyscrapers will cover 700,000 square metres and will be a point of attraction to multinationals and private investors. At the heart of the district will be the Eko Atlantic Financial Centre. Other features of the city includes a massive shopping mall (that will be the largest in West Africa), an international school, world-class hospital, and other 21st century amenities that makes the city suitable to live, work, and play. EAC is planned to attract 250,000 inhabitants with 150,000 more commuting in each day. In order to avert future ocean surges, the plan include the construction of an 8.5km-length sea revetment known as the ‘Great Wall of Lagos’ which will also prevent coastal flooding in the environment around EAC.

The actualization of this project is significant for the city’s long term development plan. Besides placing Lagos as a leading financial hub on a global scale, it also promises to empower its residents through the numerous economic opportunities it will open. It is already estimated that the EAC will generate 150,000 new jobs that will include skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled employment. This will ostensibly empower the citizenry while reducing urban poverty.

There has been significant progress in construction, and work been done on the site already. Office space will be available for leasing later this year. However there are concerns about the impact of land reclamation and dredging activities on communities in the surrounding area. It is also thought that this development work will lead to the death of some aquatic wildlife. It is advisable that the main stakeholders involved in this project provide alternative housing schemes for people that are displaced by the construction activities. They should also be given priority consideration for various employment opportunities from the city. Close.